Regulator adjusting mechanism



y 1952 e. L. HAMMON 2,597,479

REGULATOR ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed March 11, 1947 INVENTOR. GEORGE L.HAMMO/V 4 T TOFNE K Patented May 20, 1952- REGULATOR ADJUSTING MECHANISMf George L. Hammon, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to National WeldingEquipment 00., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication March 11, 1947, Serial No. 733,927

- 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valve stem packings andregulators.

It has use particularly in regulators of the type used to reduce thepressure of a gas from some high-pressure source and has particularreference to the adjusting mechanism of the regulator.

One object of this invention is to provide a regulator adjustingmechanism having no metallic.

feel during its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjusting mechanismwhich will have an exceptionally long life and require infrequent repairor replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view, mostly in section, of a regulator embodying thisinvention.

In valves of this type the pressures are so great that a slight turn onthe handle will have a large elfect. Also, due to the high pressures,the parts must be kept tight and yet they should be easily turned inmaking adjustments.

The gas enters the housing body I of the regulator at the inlet openingH and passes through the conduit I 2 into the high-pressure chamber I3.A valve mechanism I 4, preferably of the type shown in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 733,924., filed March 11, 1947, permits the gasto enter the pressure expansion chamber I6, where the pressure isreduced to the desired amount. Then the gas flows out through theconduit I! to the outlet opening [8.

The valve 14, normally urged to a closed position by the spring I9, isopened when the actuating pin 20 pushes the valve piston 2| away fromthe valve seat 22. The actuating pin 20 is carried on the end of thediaphragm mount 23, which also supports the diaphragm 24 and thediaphragm plate 25. The entire diaphragm as sembly is held in place bythreading the housing head 26 onto complementary threads on the housingbase l0, and the diaphragm 24 then forms the top of the expansionchamber [6. The diaphragm 24 maintains the outlet pressure at I8 at asubstantially even rate because an increase in pressure within thechamber l6 causes the diaphragm to exert a force tending to move the pin26 to the left and thus to reduce the flow of gas around the valve [4,while a decrease in pressure has the effect of permitting the spring 21to move the diaphragm and the pin 20 to the right.

This invention has to do primarily with the means for adjusting thespring 21 which bears at one end on a boss on the diaphragm plate 25 andbears at its opposite end on a bearing member 28. This bearing member 28has a non-metallic insert, preferably consisting of a leather disc 29,supported in a socket 30. The disc 29 preferably should be larger thanthe end 3| of the adjusting screw which bears against it. It can best beof a non-metallic material such as rubber, leather, composition, orother equivalent material. The feel imparted by this arrangement isnoticeably difi'erent from the abrasive, metal rubbing on metal feel inother forms of high pressure valve regulators. The adjusting screw 32through which this feel is imparted is mounted on the screw housing 33,which is, in turn, threaded into the housing head 26 at 38. The screwhousing 33 has a. recess 34 at one end which is filled with the packingmaterial 35, preferably a composition of asbestos, lead wire, copperwire, and a vegetable oil. This packing lubricates the threads 36 of thescrew 32, which threads are preferably square. A compression nut 39holds the packing 35 in snug leak-tight contact on the threads 36.

The adjusting mechanism is completed by the handle 31 which is mountedon the screw 32, and is used to turn it. A look nut 40 holds the handlenut 31 in place. It is preferable that the rim 4| of the handle shouldseat on the housing head 26 at a certain pressure thereby producing ineffect a perfect seal for the exposed part of the screw. It serves toseal out the dust and dirt from getting onto the threads at 36 or insideto the V threads on 32 and causing wear and leakage. This feature ismore completely described in my co-pending application Serial No.733,928, filed March 11, 1947, now abandoned.

One source of annoyance in regulator mechanisms has been metallic feeldue to the metal on metal contacts of the screw with the spring or metalbearing on the spring. The combination described herein has a surprisingand pleasing effect in the operation of the device. Themetalagainst-leather contact of the screw end 3| with the leatherbearing 29 avoids a metallic feel and at the same time provides a longerwearing connection than has been provided heretofore.

It is to be understood that I have described a preferred example of myinvention, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size,material, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritof my invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A pressure regulating gas valve comprising a diaphragm, an adjustingscrew, and spring means between said screw and said diaphragm forregulating the entry of gas, a bearing rigid member on the end of saidspring and a member of non-metallic material having leather-likequalities supported thereon and engaged b the end of said adjustingscrew.

2. A pressure regulating gas valve comprising a diaphragm, an adjustingscrew, and spring means between said screw and said diaphragm forregulating the entry of gas, a recessed'ri'gid bearing supporting memberon the end of said spring, and a leather disc in said recess engaged bythe end of said adjusting screw.

3. A gas pressure regulator comprising a housing, a high-pressurechamberin said housing,

an expansion chamber insaidhousinEQand a. valve in said housing betweensaidhigh-pres sure chamber and said expansion chamber, an

actuating pin adapted to be moved to open said valve, a coil springoperatively connected to exert forces on said pin and move it, a screwmounted in said housing by which the tension of said spring can bevaried, a diaphragm acted upon by the compression in said expansionchamber to regulate the movement of said pin, a recessed rigid bearingsupporting member between said spring and said screw, and a leather-likebearing in the recess in contact with said screw.

GEORGE 'L. HAMMON.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

,S'I'A'IES PATENTS

